Nutpods Product Review

by Kay Rice | Jul 27, 2017 | 90 Day Challenge

Nutpods Product Review

Giving up half & half and honey in my coffee was one of the things I wrestled with before going on my 90 Day Challenge. Coffee is an important morning ritual for me—and I like it the way I like it. I didn’t want to compromise unless there was a good reason, and unless I could find a substitute that genuinely satisfied me. One of my “weight loss tips”, which is one of my personal rules is to never ever eat something you don’t genuinely like or enjoy! Well, the third day on my challenge I tried the Nutpods Original Flavor, and it satisfied me—so much so that I went for a second cup later in the day!

The next day I tried the Vanilla Flavor. From what I see, Vanilla flavor may be a favorite of many, but I decided that I liked the original better, so I’ll be ordering that one again. While I was writing this post, it made me crave another cup of coffee, so I used it as an excuse to try out the Hazelnut Flavor Nutpod. The smell is divine, and it tastes good and is naturally a little bit sweet—now I’m not sure which one will be my favorite—for me it’s a toss up between the Hazelnut (which generally in the store-bought creamers is way to sweet for my tastebuds) or the original.

I want to disclose that if you click on a link on this page, or on my site, I may have an affiliate relationship with that company or product, which means I will receive a small commission if you purchase.

About Nutpods:

A coffee loving reader and follower of the 90 Day Challenge asked me to please post about the nutritional information for Nutpods and here it is. The Vanilla flavor is exactly the same, only with the added ingredient of Natural Vanilla Flavor; likewise Hazelnut has Natural Hazelnut Flavor added.

Here’s some information about the ingredients in Nutpods from Barefoot Provisions:

Almonds

Healthy fats, fiber, antioxidants, calcium, zinc, selenium, copper, magnesium, manganese, tryptophan and vitamin E are just a handful of the key nutrients that make almonds so nutritious. Almonds are so nutritious — their list of benefits reads like a patent medicine bottle. They’re full of health-giving fats, like oleic acid and linoleic acid, powerful antioxidants that can protect against many forms of cancer (oleic acid can protect women against breast cancer specifically), and can also significantly lower the amount of LDL in your blood, and reduce your risk for heart disease. Almonds can build a strong immune system, prevent the onset of high blood pressure and protect you from other diseases like ADHD, asthma and osteoporosis.

Coconut

Coconut has been used by many cultures worldwide for thousands of years, and is well known for its many amazing properties. Coconut is so nutritious, its list of benefits reads like a patent medicine bottle. It’s full of health-boosting lauric acid and medium-chain triglycerides, has antimicrobial and anti-viral qualities, and has been shown to help with weight loss, Alzheimer’s, cognitive function and athletic performance. It nourishes the thyroid, helps prevent candida overgrowth, boosts the metabolism, and makes skin and hair softer. Also, it’s one of the tastiest things a person could eat. (No offense, sea veggies.)

You can read more about Nutpods on Barefoot Provisions just by going to the Nutpods Variety Pack product page, and I encourage you to do that. Be sure to scroll down to the bottom and read about Madeline Hayden who created Nutpods using a Kickstarter campaign. I love supporting good, wholesome sustainable products and good people. I like to know the story behind the products. This is a great story about a very determined woman entrepreneur who saw a need and was determined to fulfill it.

Where to Find Nutpods:

The Nutpods Creamer along with a host of other foods and condiments you may like and are suitable for the 90 Day Challenge can be found on Barefoot Provisions —anything under their Whole30 tab will be sugar, gluten, dairy, legume, and additive free and made from the highest quality ingredients. Click here if you want go directly to the page for the Nutpods Variety Pack on Barefoot Provisions for $11.99. Barefoot provisions offers FREE shipping on orders over $99 (USD), so it’s a great option if you are stocking up on new dressings, condiments and items for your EFK (Emergency Food Kit) for travel, food on the go, and when you just need a back up plan.

On Amazon the Nutpods Variety Pack costs $13.95 with FREE One-day shipping for Amazon Prime members, is also eligible for their “Subscribe and Save” program.

Gee, writing this post just made me want another cup of coffee!!

I’ll be posting other reviews here … there are more coffee creamers I want to try. I’ve spotted one that also has 100% cacao in it. I’ll let you know how that goes.

Enjoy!

Kay Rice, M.Ed. Wellness & Lifestyle Coach, Ayurvedic Educator, Consultant, Author & Free Spirited Adventurer

A Word on Supplements

by Kay Rice | Jul 14, 2017 | 90 Day Challenge

Okay, I’m not big on supplements, but there are two that I take every day and recommend to anyone who is on a calorie restricted diet. The first is a daily Multi-Vitamin and the second Essential Lipids, or Omega 3-6-9 Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs). Here are my thoughts on those, and what I’ve been taking.

A Daily Multi-Vitamin is Good Insurance

Consider this an insurance policy against vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Especially when you are on a calorie restrictive diet this is important. We tend to eat many of the same foods over and over from day to day, which may not provide us with all the vitamins and minerals we need. In addition, due to commercial farming, the depletion of the nutrients in our soil, and the distance that some of our fruits and vegetables travel before consumption, many of them do not have optimal nutrient quality.

I like the liquid supplements best because they begin being absorbed in your mouth and throughout you your system. If not a liquid, a chewable vitamin is my second choice for optimal absorption, followed by a tablet or capsule. For best results, always take your vitamin supplements with a meal. There are several good quality liquid mulit’s—the one I’ve been taking the past couple of months is pictured on the left & I order it from Amazon: Tropical Oasis Women’s Multi-Vitamin.

Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs)

Okay, this is why you need a supplement for EFAs—Our bodies cannot produce these lipids on their own, they have to be ingested daily. So unless you are eating salmon, or flax seed in sufficient quantities on a daily basis, a daily dose of EFA’s just makes sense. Most adults need approximately 3,000 mg daily ideally from a supplement that contains 3-6-9 Fatty Acids from a combination of plant and fish oils.Studies have shown 80% of Americans to be deficient in at least one of these essential fatty acids. Further, nearly 100% of those deficient in EFA’s are overweight or obese. EFA’s are powerful anti-oxidants. These fatty acids are essential for cell metabolism and the health of our skin and hair In addition EFA’s have been shown to decrease cholesterol, support healthy hormone secretion, increase our energy levels and improve the efficiency of our immune system. Lack of sufficient EFA’s can trigger an increase in stored body fat, elevate cholesterol and lower energy levels. The Essential Lipids are essential fats our bodies need for a variety of functions.

How to Take Your Supplements

Okay, now that you have these two basics … here are my tips on the best way to take them, and what I do.

Take your supplements with a meal and drink at least 8 ounces of water with them.
Be consistent by taking your supplements at the same time each day to create a habit.
When taking your EFA’s (or Omega 3 Fatty Acids), if you are using fish oil capsules and they happen to cause indigestion, switch to flax seed oil gel caps. For the highest quality, look for a gel-cap which contains a combination of both Fish & Plant Based Oils, such as Flax Seed and Evening Primrose Oils among others.
For optimal absorption of your multi-vitamin supplement, a high quality tablet is superior to a capsule, and a liquid multi-vitamin is superior to a tablet for absorption. I’m currently taking a daily liquid multi-vitamin, and I order it from Amazon: Tropical Oasis Women’s Multi-Vitamin. Tropical Oasis also makes a Liquid Multi-Vitamin for men.